Speechless over how fiercely intelligent and empathetic this regency romance is. And funny—it’s so funny! This love story, featuring a neurodivergent Speechless over how fiercely intelligent and empathetic this regency romance is. And funny—it’s so funny! This love story, featuring a neurodivergent genius of a heroine, is infinitely patient and poignantly unusual and swooningly tender.
I love her, I love him, I love the writing, I love the scientific/mathematic/literary references, and most importantly, I love the author.
WOW. With two degrees from Harvard and this lovely pearl of a book, who needs traditional editing/publishing?...more
Rough beginning, and it seems to have a problem deciding whether the King is a powerful vampire or just a regular indie romance asshole (down to some Rough beginning, and it seems to have a problem deciding whether the King is a powerful vampire or just a regular indie romance asshole (down to some tired lines and some of the sex), but I ended up really enjoying this. Partly because I like the fantasy world inhabited with various creatures (including some non-traditional PNR ones), partly she kicks serious ass, partly because it turns out he has principles, and partly because a giant snake named Fang won me over.
3.5 stars bumped up because it's a creative and fun take on vampire/shifter/etc. romantasies. With more edits, I could see this series being really great....more
I just don’t understand how each one of these keeps knocking my socks off. This one took awhile to win me over, but once I understood Cynthia and why I just don’t understand how each one of these keeps knocking my socks off. This one took awhile to win me over, but once I understood Cynthia and why she is so unapologetically single-minded in her pursuit of a husband, my heart just broke for her. And I think Miles’ does as well.
I can’t get over how smart and empathetic the writing is, with wisdom and honor and heart. Of all the books that have aspired to give us stories and characters like Jane Austen’s, I’ve never before read passages that so strongly recall her principles and practicality and wit. It also piercingly and poignantly speaks of the few options that women have during this era.
I haven’t even mentioned how absolutely swoony and sensuous their relationship is, or how she challenges him and he does his best to do right by her, even when it causes him pain. Third book I’ve read by this author, third book I love....more
This was a favorite of mine from back in the day when I first started reading romances. Upon rereading, I'm glad to see it holds up, with some reservaThis was a favorite of mine from back in the day when I first started reading romances. Upon rereading, I'm glad to see it holds up, with some reservations.
First off: it's VERY dated. Romances, and historical romances in particular, are written and read with a very different eye from the way they are now, so some allowances have to be made for that. More difficult to ignore are some extremely problematic, triggering, and hurtful language and scenarios, which are hard to read whether they are accurate/not uncommon/whatever to the time period or not. So please be forewarned that this is not just a product of its time, but some of what we know now are micro-aggressions are included casually within the story. (view spoiler)[Specifics: a racial slur (not directed at a person but used in a passing remark about a thing), fat-shaming, forced consummation, sexism. (hide spoiler)] And rampant stupidity, misogynistic/patriarchal male behavior in general, though the author works overtime to let the heroine neatly turn the situation to her own benefit.
Having said that, Frances Kilbracken is so delightful I fell in love with her all over again. To ensure that an unwanted Englishman does not choose her among her sisters as a bride, she disguises herself as a frumpy dullard--but it doesn't work, because he decides having an undemanding mouse as a wife would enable him to continue a libertine life through London. This is one of the best heroines-in-disguise stories ever, and I laughed at her antics throughout the whole story.
(view spoiler)[I normally also don't enjoy books where the hero sleeps with other women after meeting the heroine, and while it's still cringey here, he does come around to fidelity after he and Frances come to understand each other better. (hide spoiler)]This is a case where the hero is a careless womanizer in the beginning, but believably falls in love despite his best attempts to resist. I was really quite surprised at how skillfully all this was done.
I don't remember any other Coulter book ever living up to my enjoyment of this one, though I may try revisiting a few others to see if there are other gems....more
Very much enjoyed, especially after the story gets going. Lily is your steady, quietly daring friend who won't hesitate to politely challenge you on yVery much enjoyed, especially after the story gets going. Lily is your steady, quietly daring friend who won't hesitate to politely challenge you on your actions and value system, which is verrrry interesting as she comes across a mystery that tests her views. It's a stroke of genius that the author makes her a widow, which gives her freedoms and a certain self-confidence not typically enjoyed by single ladies during this era.
The mystery itself gets more interesting as it develops. I think what makes this one a standout from other cozy historical mysteries is the thoughtful way the author writes about women and the ways they have to navigate society's demands, as well as the friendships, from female-female to male-female to male-male. And all of it is integrated seamlessly into the story. I also loved the ending scene, which opens the door for more adventures in a very intentional way--as well as shows the support and respect she has gained. Excited to read the others!
P.S. Is it coincidence that we have both a Jem and a Carstairs in this book, though? Probably so, but shades of The Infernal Devices.
Audio Notes: Henrietta Meire does fine as a narrator for Lily's voice. I like her secondary voices much less, as many of the women have accents and diction that reminded me too much of others--most specifically, Harriet Walter in Sense and Sensibility...or am I thinking of Juliet Stevenson in Emma?--and the male voices were uniformly too dry, harsh, and unvaried. But I'll keep listening to the others, as the voice for Lily is pleasant....more
So good. Sarah’s transformation from terrified new wolf to strong shapeshifter (view spoiler)[SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW ALPHA, BITCH. (hide spoiler)] had So good. Sarah’s transformation from terrified new wolf to strong shapeshifter (view spoiler)[SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW ALPHA, BITCH. (hide spoiler)] had me cheering, and damn, huge protective werebears are sexy, too. ...more
I looovvveee herrrrrrr. Emily is probably my favorite HP heroine ever.
I disliked the beginning of the book so much, but once I glanced at the synopsiI looovvveee herrrrrrr. Emily is probably my favorite HP heroine ever.
I disliked the beginning of the book so much, but once I glanced at the synopsis again, I realized that the female POV in the beginning is the POV of the amoral other woman Gina (along with Luke’s POV), not the heroine’s. The two of them are having an affair behind her husband’s Charles’ back, complicated by Luke’s being Charles’ right hand man. They are blackmailed and maneuver themselves into a situation where Luke will marry Gina’s school friend Emily to cover up the affair, and will stay married until Charles dies.
Emily sweeps into this distasteful scenario like a breath of fresh air. She’s direct, kind, funny, and too smart for her own good, plus she has beautiful grey eyes and enjoys her food and creature comforts. (How nice it is to have a HP heroine actually relax and enjoy the expense account her husband can well afford, too. All the shopping in Paris and haircut talk was really fun.) She accepts the proposition because she needs to money to help her cousin, but as she gets to know Luke, she develops feelings for him and decides she’s going to try to see if he’d be interested in her for real. But on their wedding day, she finds out about his real relationship with Gina, and is devastated that he isn’t the man she thought he was. I felt such kinship and sympathy with her throughout the story.
Some spoilers:
This is one of the few HPs that truly shows a believable gradually falling in love scenario. You can’t help but adore Emily and despite Gina’s femme fatale appeal and history with Luke, it’s not hard to see why he starts to have feelings for Emily, too. This is a case where the hero isn’t a jerk—he deceived his employer and mentor for years, but he truly thought he loved Gina and had been willing to do things above board—and when the blinders are lifted, he’s filled with self-contempt and loathing for what he did to Charles, and to Emily. Luke’s POV is done so well. You never see this kind of self-reflection and acknowledgment of his own bad behavior in HP men, so to see it done so thoroughly—and because of a girl as amazing as Emily—is so satisfying to see. (view spoiler)[It’s icky that he was still sleeping with Gina after he and Emily got married, but I suppose it’s realistic. What I do like is that Luke and Emily never sleep together until towards the end, after he’s dumped Gina and declared his feelings for Emily. I like that their relationship is kept above all that, and he truly knows and loves her as a person first. (hide spoiler)]
I adore Emily. And I ended up loving this book. I’ve read this author a few times before and enjoyed her well enough, but didn’t know she had this in her. I’m looking forward to reading some more of her novels! Closing this one with a happy sigh....more
Precision plotting and tension lead up to a shocking revelation. All throughout, we know Sara has been kidnappStunningly, unbelievably prescient. Wow.
Precision plotting and tension lead up to a shocking revelation. All throughout, we know Sara has been kidnapped along with a CDC officer and they are being held by a loony cult that is planning something big. (view spoiler)[Towards the end, we discover that a large group of men--many of them white supremacists and ex-military--are storming the Georgia Capitol. The Last Widow was published in 2019, which means Slaughter wrote this a minimum of three years before the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. (hide spoiler)] There are so many direct parallels between the lead up to the two events, and when I first realized what was happening, I literally got chills and screamed a little in my bed.
Re-reading in 2023, I appreciate the masterful character work, incredible action, and emotion even more. To be more than two decades into a series (and I do count Grant County + Will Trent as one big series, so please don't @ me) and still deliver so many surprises, revelations, and thrills is an unbelievable feat. Probably my favorite Slaughter book after Triptych....more
"You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male."
4.5 stars Holy shit, this is good. It sounds like it's going to b"You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male."
4.5 stars Holy shit, this is good. It sounds like it's going to be a revenge thriller, and it is--but it's also a searing takedown of rape culture and a merciless examination of the way violence begets violence. Riveting prose, three clear POVs, and a relentless story that doesn't try to provide answers, but forces you to think about the things we excuse legally and socially. In a year in which we've stood by and watched Brock Turner get a slap on the wrist, seen serial abusers publicly disparage the victims they attacked, and witnessed the repeated objectification of women on a national platform, this could not be more timely. I wish this book were in the hands of all teenagers, boys and girls, for the invaluable conversation piece that it is. There are a fair number of contemporary YA "issue" novels that deal with rape or abuse, but this one, in the guise of a thriller, hits home intellectually and emotionally in a way I haven't seen before.
But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.
There are a few things you have to accept for the purposes of the story, the biggest of which is a logistical issue (view spoiler)[namely, that physically, it's not that easy to do the things Alex did to Comstock (hide spoiler)]. I'm okay with looking past that, however, because the author provides enough convincing detail to make it worthwhile. The only thing that really niggles me a bit (aside from a slightly rushed ending) is that, in my view, Alex's feelings for Jack develop and progress a bit too quickly to fit the near-feral, loner mindset she was in. There's definitely chemistry between them, but I was still never fully convinced the two of them would have been a thing that quickly, especially considering his background and baggage. However, I liked that Alex didn't judge Jack or other girls for his past, I liked the way a real obstacle came between them (view spoiler)[that is, that he had a real problem absorbing the disturbing information she revealed to him; too many books let the BF/GF give the MC a pass (hide spoiler)], and I liked the fantastic way the story ended. OVARIES OF STEEL, Ms. McGinniss.
Bonus: there isn't the faintest whiff of the type of pretentious posturing and tiresome smoke-and-mirrors plotting that's become so popular in YA thrillers lately. (I'm looking at you, We Were Liars.) This book has things to say, and the writing cuts like a razor so that words nearly bleed off the page.
I'm really pissed off at the weirdly quirky cover art for this book, however. WTF is that? It does absolutely no justice to the intensity of the blistering words and emotions inside. This book is full of feminine rage, and while some readers might flinch at the violence within, I think it's rage that's been justly earned.
Trigger warnings for violence, sexual and otherwise....more
4.5 stars BADASS GIRL GLADIATORS. Does that sound amazing? Guess what--it's even more awesome than it sounds.
I was lucky enough to read an early galle4.5 stars BADASS GIRL GLADIATORS. Does that sound amazing? Guess what--it's even more awesome than it sounds.
I was lucky enough to read an early galley, but review to come from the ARC. With any luck, this thing will be a monster success. It deserves it....more
My absolute favorite book of 2016 so far. So smart, so funny, and feminist as fuck, without stomping all over other girls' choices.
It's out in stores My absolute favorite book of 2016 so far. So smart, so funny, and feminist as fuck, without stomping all over other girls' choices.
It's out in stores today, and I'll have a review and author guest post on the blog next week, but in the meantime:
Ave is pretty, too, but she's like a wilted version of Ashley with braces and slightly duller hair. If they had been fetal twins, Ashley definitely would've consumed Avery for nutrients, and all that'd be left of Ave would be a tumor with a few teeth in it.
This is the funniest YA book I've read in years. YEARS. I couldn't stop laughing throughout the entire book. Scarlett is also a fucking heroine, and I love her to pieces.
More awesome things: memorable characters, messy parent/teen relationships, teen/older adult friendships, lower lower middle class that's not portrayed in a tragic way, teachers who give a shit, cute love connections, girl friendships...I could go on and on, but you should really just read the book and find out for yourself.
All I have to say is, this book is somehow even more awesome than the original series.
Don't be nervous about the multiple POVs--every character has hAll I have to say is, this book is somehow even more awesome than the original series.
Don't be nervous about the multiple POVs--every character has history and agency, and you'll care deeply about every single one of them. Plus diversity! Kickass heroines! Gifted thieves! Amaaaaazing action sequences! All perfectly paced and perfectly thrilling.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book that I formatted, too! Get thee to a bookstore--the hardback is gorgeous, and so is the book. The author has outdone herself.
4.5 stars I didn't believe all the high ratings, and now here I am with them.
A good example of why it's good to try authors again, btw. I'd read a cou4.5 stars I didn't believe all the high ratings, and now here I am with them.
A good example of why it's good to try authors again, btw. I'd read a couple of the author's earlier books and found them likable if a bit unmemorable, but there was absolutely no indication that one day she'd write a brutal book--or an uncompromising heroine--like this.
Vlad the Impaler re-imagined as an aggressive girl! Fantastic. ...more
Why can't all books have sky dragons and pegasi and impossible romance? *sigh*Why can't all books have sky dragons and pegasi and impossible romance? *sigh*...more
I cannot believe in all these years of reading this book, I completely overlooked the queer subtext. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? The things I learn from ouI cannot believe in all these years of reading this book, I completely overlooked the queer subtext. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? The things I learn from our classics readalongs! Also, one of our blog friends mentioned it's possible Harriet may be on the autism spectrum. One of those cases where discussing a book makes you look at something you love in a whole new light.
4.5 stars This revisionist retelling of Lady Jane Grey's brief reign and romance shouldn't work--but it does! It's deliriously dotty and clever, with 4.5 stars This revisionist retelling of Lady Jane Grey's brief reign and romance shouldn't work--but it does! It's deliriously dotty and clever, with affectionate nods to great absurdist historical comedies like THE PRINCESS BRIDE, Monty Python, and even, I think, Black Adder and LADYHAWKE. The ridiculously punny humor had me giggling from beginning to end.
It's also superbly well-crafted, especially considering the three POVs were written by three different authors, and the historical details and context are inserted with just the right touch. Most notably, the strict mores and sexism of the time are observed and acknowledged before they are slyly subverted, particularly in the fantastically endearing and capable women (only one of whom wields a weapon).
It's hard to believe a tragic moment in history could be turned into such a delightful confection of joyous alternate history, but The Lady Janies have done it.
There is a giveaway for 2 QOS tote bags + books as well.
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Kim and I will also be doing a joint review discussion on the blog soon. I'm refraining from responding to further comments on this review space for the time being while I collect my thoughts, but I thank you guys so much for the discussion and passion for these books, and look forward to continuing later. See you back here in a bit, I'll post the link when it's up!
Initial reaction:
I stayed up all night reading this, and these are the only coherent things I can say at this point:
1. The women in this series are PHENOMENAL. Holy hell, I swear fealty to them until the end of my days.
2. The new characters are fantastic! There is such complexity and poignancy in each of their stories, and I loved every single one of them, as well as what Aelin's interactions with them showed about her character.
3. More descriptions of sleeping under a wyvern's wing, please. <3
4. I have issues with the way a couple of things are handled--most strongly and specifically, how poor Chaol is almost unrecognizable for most of this book. Even though I can accept misunderstandings, mistakes, differences of opinion, cross-purposes, and so on, it makes me so sad that his story arc seemed to be so diminished and dishonored.
5. But the thing I didn't think I could be talked into, I'm actually totally on board with. I get why people might be upset by (view spoiler)[Rowan and Aelin getting together, and maybe if there hadn't been so much previous back and forth with Dorian and Chaol, and if Chaol hadn't pretty much disavowed Aelin through most of this book, the new relationship would've been more palatable (hide spoiler)], but I'm pretty happy with the way the way the big change develops and is described in and of itself.
6. This book also made me cry. Like gasping sobs in the middle of the night that I had to stifle so I wouldn't wake my husband. I teared up at several points, but the graveyard scene was the one where I just lost it. (view spoiler)[Sam still hurts my heart, so I was unbearably moved that his presence is so deeply felt in this book. I didn't expect it. (hide spoiler)] *bawls all over again*
Also, the badass action scenes! Aelin! Her suit and weapons! The magic! MANON. And bathtub scenes, heeeey. More at some point when I'm not half-dead with lack of sleep.
I went into this with a certain amount of dread, but much to my surprise, this is the book that has the happiest ending out of all of them. This just means more torture is in store in future books, obviously, but for now...bliss.
** PLEASE. Use spoiler tags in the comments below if you want to talk about anything that could even remotely spoil the reading experience for someone else. Thank you!...more
Wendy Darling
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